pineapples, papaya, rainbows, oh my!
Kapalua, Hawaii
Pineapples, papaya, and rainbows, oh my! Maui, you amaze me.
What an epic victory lap for the year racing Xterra triathlons.
I don’t recall ever seeing so many rainbows in such a short time. Not as one living in southern Arizona where we have sunshine more than 300 days of the year. As a triathlete preparing to race in Maui, I didn’t want to see another rainbow, it just meant more rain; they were a sight to behold though, wow.
Kapalua is beautiful, my home base for the Xterra Triathlon World Championships. The lush, every-shade of green vegetation combined with an endless ocean backdrop was something to enjoy taking in every morning as you opened the doors and throughout the day. It was relaxing to hear the ocean waves and birds chirping in the background.
The ocean won my heart and my respect. While I have set my feet in the ocean in the past, I have never completed an ocean swim before. I was going into a race where a one mile swim was sure to test me, never mind the muddy course that set ahead for us on the bike and run portions following the swim.
Day one in Maui, go swim! I may have been a little ‘deer in the headlights”’as we headed out to practice for my first ocean swim. My voice might have gotten caught in my throat as my training partner headed straight out and said, ‘Let’s go’. Did I mention I have a fabulous training partner? While the swim is where he feels at home, I am more a visitor that won’t even take off the coat to get comfortable.
He wins the award this year for patience with me. I/we had the pleasure of so many new experiences with Xterra that this World Championship Race was dubbed a ‘victory lap”’(words of aforementioned amazing training partner who also qualified).
I did well that first swim, three days prior to the race. I didn’t excel but I did it. I did better the next day and yet the day after that. I was ready. I was relaxing in the water. I was enjoying it! I was excited to get back in the water each day.
Then, race day arrived. The swells were impressive. The 5-7 foot waves, some say double that figure, were intimidating. Was I ready? The shore breaking waves demanded respect. Warming up, I learned why you always carry two sets of goggles in your bag. Mother Ocean took many pairs of goggles that morning as she did mine on the warm up swim. Do not turn your back to her. Spare goggles retrieved, I was ready. I would do it, I did do it. I made it through the one mile swim that included swimming out twice and crashing twice back to the shore on the return. The choppy water and strong current that followed the wave break were conquered. A few racers decided that the ocean wasn’t a battle to fight that day and walked away. Others were hurting from getting tossed on the beach and thus questioned why they were doing this and we had only finished the swim.
The bike portion took others out of the race. It was a mudfest! In the words of Pro athlete Josiah Middaugh, ‘It was like being a greased pig on a slip ‘n slide’. It’s one thing to ride, push, or even carry a 23-pound mountain bike, it’s a whole ‘nother game when the bike weighs another 10 pounds on top of that just because of the mud. Add in the fact that over 700 people were competing.
The trails continued to worsen as more and more people took to it. It locked up the bike. It broke chains and derailleurs for some. Grass got wrapped up in the tires and chain. It was a mental game to keep moving forward when the majority of the first five miles was spent pushing your bike uphill while stopping every fifty feet to clear debris off the bike. When I could actually ride my bike, it was wonderful! I was elated to actually ride the bike versus push the bike.
There were a few fun sections as well, when not frustrating. I missed the views from the top of the 3,400-foot-plus climb looking out toward the ocean. It was a rideable section and like many others, you took the chance to ride and go strong. The mud and slick wasn’t over but I did take those rideable moments and rode them like I’d just stolen that bike.
I’d acknowledged to myself that I might not make the time cut-off but in reality, I truly wouldn’t have been happy with that. Surprisingly, I did made that time cut-off on the bike. I don’t know how other than I just kept moving forward.
Ditching the bike that now felt fifty pounds heavy and changing my shoes, running was an exhausting thought. It was also glorious! I felt light for a moment, I wasn’t cramping as I took off which is how I often felt in the past during the run portions. I was not looking forward to traversing the trails that included sections of the same slip-‘n-slide conditions as the bike course, but no way was I quitting.
Just has I had fallen off the bike several times, I fell on the run. One could only laugh at that point. While it was great to stretch out the legs without hauling a bike, it became sarcastically entertaining as grabbing tree branches became necessary to hold you up before you went sliding down the hill.
There were moments of feeling pretty good, then frustrating as climbing over a downed tree made you lose your momentum. If you were feeling bad for yourself it was replaced with wonder and respect other racers had for each other. People sacrificing their own races to help support others who were struggling on course.
The camaraderie in this sport is inspiring. It’s uplifting. It helps carry you through the run, across the beach, and the finish line.
Brutal! The race was brutal and grand. It was one for the record books and memory bank; so many stories will be shared after this one. The pictures and videos posted online do not tell the whole story. Multiple personal battles were fought for those competing. It took grit, perseverance, and a love for the challenge.
No, I did not finish as I had hoped via a certain time frame but I did finish. I finished my first ever World Championship Race. Yes, “first” Worlds, and yes, I would do it again. If I can, why not?
It was glorious.
So was being able to swim again the following day in nothing more than a calm gentle ocean; of course, the race was over. I took in the ocean again knowing that I would not see it again for some time. We don’t have one of those where I live (Arizona) or grew up (Nebraska). There was only one more thing that would top off my time in Maui…I wanted to see a sea turtle.
I found him (or her), my last morning on the island. Simon, as I have named him, was spotted resting peacefully on the beach early that morning; my “icing on the cake” if you will. It was remarkable week (and year of racing) that will forever be in my heart and mind. New friends were made, challenges conquered, and new locations explored. It has me yet smiling. It was some of what you didn’t want it to be and yet couldn’t imagine it any other way.
I thank everyone for all their support. This year of racing Xterra has been remarkable; a humbling adventure. My training partner could not be replaced. My studio/class members could not be more patient and supportive. Friends and family that think I am crazy, I thank you as well. I wish I could bottle up all your support and show it to the world.
Wait, we did! I couldn’t have done it without you.
Mahalo!